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Aveiro
A city often referred to as Portugal's Venice
City Overview
Aveiro is a Portuguese city located on the northern coast in the Central Region of Portugal. The city is dominated by the Ria de Aveiro and the arms of water that penetrate the urban space and have permanently marked the history, heritage, culture, and local identity.
It is the second most populous city in the Centro Region of Portugal (after Coimbra).
Aveiro is located 75 km from Porto. From Sao Bento Station, in the centre of Porto, it is possible to reach Aveiro in about one hour and fifteen minutes. From Coimbra it takes only half an hour. Some trains from Lisbon to Porto stop in Aveiro. The closest big city to Aveiro is Porto a simple and cheap train ride away.
Getting Around
Aveiro is flat and itself pretty small and extremely walkable, but there are also public buses, taxis, and ride shares available.
Places to stay
Visitors will be spoilt for choice when choosing accommodation in Aveiro. There are many hotels in Aveiro to choose from, to suit every taste and budget, from luxurious hotels to smaller, family-run hotels that offer a real home-from-home welcome.
A number of the hotels in Aveiro are located in the city’s distinctive art nouveau and art deco buildings, which have been tastefully renovated to provide all the amenities a modern hotel guest requires whilst retaining a flash of old-world charm.
Book a hotel in the city centre so you can walk and enjoy your few days which enough time to explore the city.
Sightseeing
One of the must-do activities is to take a tour on one of the typical boats called “moliceiros:. These slender, colourful boats were used to collect seaweed and sargassum in the past but are now used for tourist trips.
In the central part of the city, you’ll find The Lover’s bridge of Aveiro, a bridge that stands over the urban canal where tourists pose for photos, wave to passing boats, and swear oaths of love and friendship by placing colourful ribbons and bows on the bridge railings.
Aveiro is also known as the museum city of Art Nouveau in Portugal. If you’re a fan of Art Nouveau you should not miss The Art Nouveau Museum, on one of the banks of the Central Canal.
Bars, Clubs & Parties
The main area concentrating the majority of people going out at night looking for a place to unwind, meet people and have a few drinks is definitely the wide
Praça do Peixe encompasses a number of bars that usually fill up from Thursday to Saturday with lots of locals and also visitors from abroad who usually enjoy the lively scenery of this well-known square.
The Mercado Negro is another popular drinking and dancing venue in Aveiro. This fashionable space holds together a number of shops and lounge rooms that make up for a wonderful night, especially if you get the chance of catching one of their many live performances, concerts, installations and even art exhibitions. Mercado Negro is mostly famous for its diversity-driven look & feel, with its artsy walls, old, classic furniture and mismatched chairs.
The ultimate nightspot at the heart of the Aveiro cultural map is the Estaçao da Luz nightclub. With its capacity of 900 people, this is the perfect spot to come and lose yourself to the rhythm of the beat, to DJ sets from national and international artists, although a resident DJ plays at this venue most of the nights. Open from Wednesday to Saturday from midnight until 6 am during the summer season, the Estaçao da Luz is popular with locals, visitors and students alike, making it the most sought-after nightspot in the city.
Beaches
Whilst visiting Aveiro if you are can visit the sub-region of Ílhavo, where you can visit Barra Beach, home to Portugal’s highest lighthouse, and Costa Nova, a picturesque town mostly known for its wooden huts is painted in brightly coloured stripes alternating with white built by fishermen.
Cafes & Restaurants
The fish market is one of the attractions of Aveiro and it is located in Praça do Peixe. Early in the morning fishermen come to sell to restaurant owners the fish they have caught during the night.
The fish market and the restaurants nearby are the best choice for those who want to try some local fish specialities.
Whilst visiting Aveiro you should the traditional Aveiro sweet known as “Ovos moles”, a delicious custard of egg yolk, sugar, and water, wrapped in wafer.
Other
Currency - Euro (EUR)
Language - Portuguese
Visas - Not needed for travellers from the US, Canada and Europe
Best Time To Visit - March – October
Timezone - Western European Standard Time (GMT)
Homosexual Activity - Legal